Ballast router



Feb. 18, 1947. Q STRATTQN 2,416,241

BALLAST ROUTER Filed Sept. 8, 1944 ZShee-ts-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FIG. 2

INVENTOR. Lloyd 0. Straitan A ttomey.

Feb.- 18, 1947. L. o, STR ON 2,416,241;

BALLAST ROUTER Filed Sept. 8, 1944 2 Sheecs-Sheet 2 13 10 I0 35 1a AFIG. 3

' INVENTOR. Lloyd 0. Stratgfon 'fMW Attorney Patented Feb. 18, 1947UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALLAST ROUTER Lloyd 0. Stratton, Denver,Colo.

Application September 8, 1944, Serial No. 553,273

11 Claims. 1

This invention relates to means and devices employable in themaintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of railroad trackage, and has anobiect to provide a rail-supported, powered unit advantageously operable.to excavate and rout out ballast from between adjacent track ties orsleepers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-supported,powered ballast router susceptible of convenient operation to lower thesurface level of ballast relative to and below the top surface level ofadjacent track ties.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-supported,powered, unitary ballast router operatively adjustable for readyadaptation to the varying field conditions encountered.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-supported,powered ballast router unit particularly adapted to facilitate railreseating operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-supported,powered ballast router whereof the excavating assembly is adapted forangular adjustment about either or both of a pair ofperpendicularly-related axes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail-supported,powered ballast router equipped with means operable to sweep rail-seatportions 3; adjacent ties clear of ballast, dirt, and the A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a railroad track ballast routerthat is structurally and operatively simple, compact, convenient, tohandle, move, and use, fully adaptable to all exigencies of fieldconditions, positive and emcient in operation, and economical in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists inthe construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafterset forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of theinvention as assembled, positioned, and arranged for practical use, thebroken line showing of the view illustrating an alternative operativeposition of certain elements of the assembly. Figure 2 is an endelevation of the showing of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevation,partly in section, of the apparatus shown in the preceding views. Figure4 is a fragmentary, detail section, on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially on the indicated line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Railroads, as commonly constructed, comprise a base grade whereof thetop surface is laterally sloped from the longitudinal median line to anaccepted standard for drainage purposes, a ballast topping carried bysaid base grade and conforming with certain standards of thickness,width, and lateral slope, wooden ties or sleepers transversely of anduniformly spaced along said ballast topping, said ties or sleeperseither resting on the ballast upper surface or being embedded to greateror less extent, therein, metallic rails engaged in paired, parallelrelation acrossand secured to the top surfaces of said ties or sleepers,and usually metallic wear or rail seat plates operatively between therail base and each associated tie. Roads so constructed require frequentand repetitious attention to maintain them in repair and in conditionfor service, certain of which attentions involve rail removal andreplacement, rail substitution, and rail reseating, with consequentremoval, replacement, and substitution of ties and rehabilitation of thetie portion engaged by the railbase or wear plate. To accomplish many ofthe maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation operations performed onrailroad trackage, it, is necessary to dig away and remove the ballastfrom between adjacent ties or sleepers and thereby lower the ballastsurface level below the top surface of the adjacent ties, the depth ofballast removal varying according to the nature and requirements of theparticular operation to be performed. Such ballast removal is a slow,laborious, and expensive matter when, as heretofore, manuallyaccomplished, and the instant invention is directed to the provision ofpowered means adapted to efficiently and economically rout, excavate,slope, and move ballast to the desired degree relative to and frombetween railroad ties.

In the construction of the improvement as shown, the numeral Illdesignatesa rigid, elongated frame, formed from any suitable material inany desired manner for operative relation with and support by a pair offlanged, rail-engageable wheels ll rotatably associated with said framein spaced, .tandem relation for simultaneous engagement with and travelalong a single rail. Centrally and on one side of the frame Ill, atransverse, skeleton frame I! fixedly projects from and in substantiallyperpendicular relation with said frame ill to define a plan above and inapproximate parallelism with that containing the axes of the wheels ll,said frame I! being thus disposed to normally overlie and extendlaterally of the railroad trackage when said wheels II are operativelyengaged with one rail of such trackage, in the manner clearly shown inthe i said sleeve.

3 drawings. A relatively shorter, transverse frame l3 fixedly extendsfrom and in perpendicular relation with a midportion of the frame ID ina direction opposed to that of the frame l2, and said frame l3 serves asa base and support for a prime mover l4, suchas an internal combustionengine, or the like, thereto secured with its main, or power-delivery,shaft preferably parallel with the length of the frame I and in suchlaterallyoflset relation with said frame It as to function as acounterbalance, at least in part, for the weight of the frame l2 andelements associated therewith.

The transverse frame l2 has an extension from the frame l0 equal to orpreferably somewhat greater than the width or gauge of the rail track soas to dispose its free end above and inwardly adjacent the tie endsremote from the rail wherewith the wheels I I engage, and a suitablemanipulating handle I5 is fixed to, and preferably in upwardly andlongitudinally-outwardly spaced relation with, said free end of theframe l2 in position for use by an operator standing on the gradeshoulder at one side of the track. As will be app rent, the handle l5provides convenient means for manual altitudinal adjustment of the framel2 free end relative to the track, through rocking of the frame assemblyabout the line of engagement 'of the wheels I l with their supportingrail, and for moving the assembly longitudinally of the track throughrolling travel of said wheels ll along their engaged rail.

The free end of the frame [2 operatively positions and supports theexcavating head or router of the apparatus, for which purpose a bracketI6 is fixed to and in upstanding relation with said frame free end andis formed with an inwardlyopening terminal yoke at its upper end whereinis embraced a lug l1 fixed to and extending radially from and adjacentthe upper end of a cylindrical sleeve I 8. A hinge pin l9 engages inregistering holes formed through the bracket l6 terminal yoke and lug I1and thereby serves to mount the sleeve l8 on, in laterally-ofl'set,depending relation with the upper end of, and for oscillation of itsaxis through an arc in a plane perpendicular to that of the frame l2toward and away from said bracket IS, a second radial lug 20 projectingfrom and adjacent the lower end of the sleeve II in coplanar relationwith the lug l1 and engaging between spaced elements of the bracket l6serving to guide and position said sleeve relative to the frame l2 andbracket it throughout the oscillatory. range of The sleeve l8telescopically receives and rotatively mounts a cylindrical stem 2|.rising centrally of and from a yoked frame 22, said stem extendingupwardly through and beyond the upper end of said sleeve to fixedconnection with a cap 23 arranged to bear against the upper sleeve endand limit axial displacement of saidstem relative to the sleeve.

The yoked frame 22' diverges outwardly and downwardly from the lower endof the stem 2| and is then extended longitudinally of, beneath, andsubstantially parallel with the frame I 2 to provide journal bearingswherein the axes of a pair of like chain sprockets 24 are operatively,

received to mount said sprockets in spaced, tandem relation on oppositesides of the projected stem axis for rotation in a plane containing saidstem axis and normally perpendicular to that of the wheels H. An endleschain 25, or equivalent element, operatively engages with and connectsbetween the sprockets 24 for disp sition 911 ment with the ties, andsaid chain operatively carries, in suitably-spaced sequence, a pluralityof lugs, hooks, fingers, shoes, or like excavating elements, 26 arrangedto project outwardly from said chain and to move therewith, and of suchspecific form, size, and construction as may be,

deemed best suited to a particular use, but in no event having adimension laterally of the mounting chain greater than the minimumspacing between adjacent track ties. The sprockets 24 and chain 25 maybe operatively associated in driven relation with the prime mover Mthrough any arrangement of means suited to the purpose of steadilyactuating the lower run of said chain in a direction away from the railsupporting the wheels I I, a simple and convenient such arrangementbeing illustrated as consisting of a belt pulley 21 fixed to aprojecting end of the inner sprocket axi just outside the frame 22, ajackshaft 28 joumaled diametrically of the cap 23 in parallel relationwith the sprocket axes, a smaller belt pulley 29 fixed to one end of thejack-shaft 28 in driving association through a belt 30 with the pulley21, and a larger belt pulley 3| fixed to the other end of the saidjack-shaft in driven association through a belt 32 with a power takeoffpulley 33 on the main shaft of the prime mover. When equipped withV-belts and grooved pulleys, the drive shown and above described isoperatively efllcient throughout the adjustability range of theexcavating head assembly.

It should be clear from the showing Of the drawings and the foregoingdescription that the excavating head assembly is associated with itsmounting and supporting frame assembly for at least limited oscillationabout two perpendicularly-related axes, that of the sleeve 18 and thatof the pin l9, .so that the lower run of the chain 25 can be operativelyadjusted, within the limits of the structure, to vary the bottom slopeof the trench excavated thereby and to align with and completelyexcavate alongside of a given tie, whether or not the latter is actuallyat right angles with the rails. The excavated trench bottom slope isusually standard for a series of similar consecutive operations andusually requires little variation in adjustment, it being convenient toprovide an arm 34 fixed to and extending radially from a lower portionof the sleeve l8 within the frame l2 and toward the frame It, and anadjusting screw 35 carried by a cross-member of the frame l2 andoperatively engaging with the end of the arm 34 remote from the sleevel8, whereby the excavating assembly may be adjusted and held relative tothe axis of the pin l9. Alignment of the excavating head in parallelwith the ties is frequently required, and for such purpose a tiller arm36 is fixed at one end to the cap 23 and extends therefrom intoconvenient position for manipulation by the operator tending the handleI 5.

The improved apparatus is particularly and primarily adapted for use inconnection with railroad track repair, maintenance, and rehabilitationoperations wherein one rail of a track pair is temporarily removed fromposition, in which case the wheels ll of the apparatus are engaged withthe remaining rail, as shown in the drawlugs, and the excavating head isthereby positioned to engage between adjacent ties of the track andexcavate the ballast from between the tie portions remote from theremaining rail and particularly from the track portion normallytraversed by the removed rail. The spacing between the axes of thesprockets 24 may be varied in the manufacture of the apparatus toprovide such length of chain lower run as may be desired, it beingoperatively entirely feasible to provide an excavating head length suchas will trench between the ties from adjacent the retained rail throughand beyond the ballast shoulder.

It is desirable, particularly prior to adzing or other resurfacing ofthe rail seat portions of the tie upper surfaces, that all dirt, gravel,and rock be cleared from the tie upper surface portions to be worked,and it is convenient to providesweeping means for such purpose inpowered association with the router. As shown, a bracket 31 is arrangedfor selectively alternative mounting on and against either side memberof the frame l2 adjacent and somewhat inwardly from the frame free end,which bracket operatively mounts and supports a shaft 38 for rotationand limited axial reciprocation in substantial axial parallelism withthe sleev I8. A rotary brush 39, of any suitable specific design andconstruction, is fixed to and for rotation with the lower end of theshaft 38 to direct the sweeping elements of said brush operativelyagainst the tie upper surface at the corresponding side of the frame i2,and the upper end of said shaft fixedly engages with a belt pulley 40wherethrough power may be applied to rotate said shaft and brush. Tooperatively transmit power from the prime mover l4 for rotation of abrush 39 on either side of the frame l2, or on both sides of said frame,a jack-shaft 4| is rotatably journaled on and transversely of said frameadjacent and parallel with the frame l0, said jack-shaft 4i carrying apulley 42 fixed thereto in position to engage with and be rotated by thbelt 32 and being equipped with like pulleys 43 on its outer ends forconnection, by means of a belt or belts 44, with the pulley or pulleys40 of the sweeping unit or units.

The functioning and operative adaptability of the apparatus in useshould be apparent from the drawings and foregoing description, it beingobvious that the unit may be transported conveniently on a. flat-bedrail car or by means of a wheeled dolly engageable under and forelevated support of the unit excavating head. At the site where the workis to be done and after a rail has been removed, the wheels ll of theunit are engaged with the remaining rail as shown in the drawings and,with the prime mover l4 operating, the unit is then ready and inposition for use to trench and excavate ballast cleanly from betweenadjacent tie portions whereon the removed rail rested, the unit beingmoved and manipulated by means of the handle l5 to regulate the widthand depth of excavation, and the excavating head being angularlyadjusted by means of the tiller 36, while the sweeping means operatessimultaneously at either or both sides of the excavating head to cleanand thereby condition rail seat portions of the ties for such subsequentoperations thereon as may be desired.

Since many changes, variations, and modifications in the specific form,construction, and arrangement of the elements shown and described may behad without departing from the spirit of the invention, I wish to beunderstood as being limited solely by the scope of the appended claims,rather than by any details of the illustrative showing and foregoingdescription.

I claim as my invention:

1. A ballast router comprising a wheeled frame engageable with and fortravel along a single rail, an excavating head supported for limitedadjustment about perpendicularly-related axes from and in laterallyoffset relation with said frame, and a prime mover carried by said framein actuating relation with the excavating elements of said head.

2. A ballast router comprising a wheeled frame engageable with and fortravel along a single rail, a prime mover carried by said frame, a frameextension fixed to and projecting laterally from one side of saidwheeled frame, an excavating head supported for limited adjustment aboutperpendicularly-related axes from and in depending relation beneath thefree end portion of said extension, and means operatively connecting theexcavating elements of said head in driven relation with said primemover.

3. A ballast router comprising a wheeled frame engageable with and fortravel along a single rail, a prime mover carried by said frame, a frameextension fixed to and projecting laterally from one side of saidwheeled frame, a mounting sleeve hinged to the free end portion of saidextension for limited oscillation of its axis toward and away from saidwheeled frame in a plane perpendicular to said frame, a stem rotatablyengaging within said sleeve, an excavating assembly carried by the lowerend of said stem beneath said extension, and means operativelyconnecting the excavating elements of said assembly in driven relationwith said prime mover.

4. A ballast router comprising a wheeled frame engageable with and fortravel along a single rail, a, prime mover carried by said frame, aframe extension fixed to and projecting laterally from one side of saidwheeled frame, a bracket upstanding from th free end portion of saidextension, a mounting sleeve hinged to the upper end of said bracket foroscillation of its axis towar and away from said wheeled frame in aplane perpendicular to said frame, a stem rotatably engaging and heldagainst relative axial displacement within said sleeve, an excavatingassembly carried by the lower end of said stem beneath said extension,and means operatively connecting the excavating elements of saidassembly in driven relation with said prime mover.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said excavating assemblycomprises a frame portion fixed to said stem and extending oppositelytherefrom longitudinally of and beneath the frame extension, a chainsprocket journaled for rotation in and adjacent each end of said frameportion, an endless chain operatively about and connecting between saidsprockets, and excavating lugs carried by and projecting outwardly fromsaid chain.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said excavating assemblycomprises a frame portion fixed to said stem and extending oppositelytherefrom longitudinally of and beneath the frame extension, a pair ofchain sprockets rotatably carried by said frame portion in spaced,tandem relation and defining a plane containing the stem axis, anendless chain operatively about and connecting between said sprockets,and excavating lugs fixedly spaced along and projecting outwardly fromsaid chain.

'7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said excavating assemblyincludes a rotatable sprocket disposed with its axis substantiallyparallel with that of the prime mover main shaft, and said drivingconnections comprise 7 by the upper end of the stem in parallel relationwith the sprocket axis, pulleys on the opposite ends of said Jack-shaft,and endless belts connecting the prime mover pulley with one of theJack-shaft pulleys and the sprocket pulley with the other of theJack-shaft pulleys.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said stem is fixedlyassociated with means manually operable to rotatably and angularlyadjust said stem within and relative to its mounting sleeve forcorresponding angular adjustment of the excavating assembly.

9. A ballast router comprising a wheeled frame engageable with and fortravel along a single rail, an excavating head supported from and inlaterally offset relation with said frame, a rotatable brushindependently adjacent and altitudinally floatable relative to saidhead, and a prime mover carried by said frame in simultaneouslyactuating relation with said brush and the excavating elements of saidhead. I

'10. A ballast router comprising a wheeled frame engageable with and fortravel along a single rail, a prime mover carried by said frame, a frameextension fixed to and projecting laterally from one side of saidwheeled frame, an excavating head supported from and in dependingrelation beneath the free end portion of said extension, a brushrotatably carried by said frame extension adjacent and altitudinallyfloat able relative to said head, and means operatively extension, abracket interchangeably mounted on either side of said frame extensionadjacent said head, a :brush mounted for rotation and altitudinaladjustment in said bracket, and means operatively connecting said brushand the excavating elements of said head in simultaneously drivenrelation with said prime mover.

' LLOYD O. S'I'RA'I'ION.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi? record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,468,528 Vena Sept. 18, 19231,469,464 Ursino Oct. 2, 1923 2,207,854 Foreman et al. July 16, 19402,254,742 Humphrey Sept. 2, 1941 1,820,636 Talboys Aug. 25, 19312,336,652 Talboys Dec. 14, 1943

